Sunday, October 5, 2008

Putting My Garden to Bed


Leaves look like a child has taken a paintbrush and swept it over the treetops.
The forecast is for a low of zero the next couple of nights, so out here in the country, that means freezing.
Time to pack up the hobbit garden.....until next year.


Dahlias I will try to save. The roots or corms or tubers ; not sure what you call them. I'll keep them in the garage wrapped in newspaper and if they survive, I'll plant them in the spring.


Asters ( I think) growing wild at the side of the road.
Shall I pick them before they freeze?


23 comments:

beckie said...

Wendy, your garden still looks so pretty. What a shame it will soon be gone. We lucked out this past week and didn't have a frost, now it is to warm up some again. But it is inevitable..sigh..

I love your analogy of the child and paintbrush. Perfect!

Wendy said...

Hi Beckie,
I really hate putting the garden to bed. It always seems like I've only just put out the ornaments, potted up the plants and all the fun stuff. {{{sigh!}}}
I'm glad you will be getting some warm days. We are too - towards the end of the week.

Shammickite said...

I spent this afternoon getting rid of summer annuals before Jack frost gets them. Sad to see them go, but there will be more next year.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Wendy, the trees looks beautiful with their painted tops. What a lovely thought. I am sorry winter is coming too soon for you. It is for my SIL too. They had such a hard winter in Iowa last year. Hopefully this winter won't be as severe. Oh yes! Pick the Asters before they are gone--hopefully you will get another week of beauty from them.

JeanMac said...

Kind of crept up on me - I still have to put plants away.

Bear Naked said...

This coming holiday weekend is when we will put our front and back gardens to bed for the coming--- brrrr--- winter season.
Time has just flown by this year.

Bear((( )))

Ruth said...

I resist putting my garden to bed until November. That is sometimes too late! Right now I am still picking fresh raspberries, arugula, and herbs and the sedum is in full bloom. I do love those wild asters.

Abba's Girl said...

The fall leaves are so beautiful as are your flower pictures.

I am just weeks away from planting panies, violas, lobelia, petunias, and snapdragons as well as spinach, brocoli, cauliflower and lettuce.

Do you spend time on dreary days planning next springs plantings? I pass a lot of time on rainy days looking at catalogues of seeds and flowers.

Marimoy said...

Cold weather already? Well, I guess it's not really that early, but I love your garden pictures. Well, you can send me pictures of snow when it comes and I will be jealous of that, too.

Grammy said...

Hi Wendy, 0 is quite cold. bur. I love the way you bring the garden in. I may try it to see if it helps the winter blues. I love your pictures too. Thanks for sharing them.

Rose said...

Look at the beautiful mum in your header! It's hard to resist these fall beauties. No frost warnings here yet; in fact, today is going to be very warm. Summer goes by too quickly, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

Beautiful colors. .. . the leaves don't change much here, so I turn to you for fall photos!

Cheryl said...

Sweet post Wendy.....I really enjoyed its simplicity....

Tubers.......and might I suggest you put them in dry sand and then they will survive the winter......

Have fun......

Naturegirl said...

Yes yes pick them!!
Yes it is time for our gardens to go to sleep with dreams of next year!!

Wendy said...

Hi Shammickite - I hear ya. Next year sounds so far away.

Hi Morning glories round the clock,
Last winter we had so much snow! I guess Iowa was just as bad. Thanks for stopping in. I'll pick the asters before the frost.

Hi JeanMac - it does creep up on us!

Wendy said...

Hi BearNaked - it sure has!

Hi Ruth - yummy raspberries - lucky you!

Hi Annette - oh yes, I do pour over seed catalogues and gardening books on cold wintry days. I'm intrigued by your planting lettuce and cauliflower now.

Wendy said...

Hi Mimi - oh, I'll send you pics of snow alright! I don't think you'll be jealous.

Hi Grammy - we sometimes get a cold snap early in october. The forecast is for warmer weather towards the end of the week. I hope it stays for a while.

Hi Rose - summer speeds by like lightening!

Wendy said...

Hi Amy, I'll send you lots!

Hi Cheryl, thanks for your advice re the tubers. Will do that and yes, I'll have fun....

Hi Naturegirl, if I had my way, I'd be gardening all year round. Should have been born in Hawaii. LOL!

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

I am so bad at gardening so love to read about those of you that have natural talent for growing lovely gardens. Great pictures.

peppylady (Dora) said...

I been cleaning out my flowerbeds also been working on my royal sunshine flower bed. It got real bad during the heat of summer.
But I have to say I'm waiting for my dahlia to die back.

I find fall colors pretty but it been getting colder here.

Coffee is on.

Wendy said...

Hi Mob - thanks for your kind comments and for stopping by.

Hi Pepperlady - lots to do at this time of year, isn't there? I'll have a cup of coffee and how about some cake too!

Anonymous said...

The garden gnomes invaded Wendy's garden!!! Watch out for me, I'll come to rescue you. I'll bring my chain saw and we get rid of them in no time. LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

Wendy said...

Hey Carin - I like garden gnomes! Well good ones anyway. I think it must have been the chipmunks here. There are so many - they must have hijacked my plants. LOL!